JP drama takes a new turn

All the provisions of the sub-section, approved in the ninth national council, have been misused. By exercising this section, the party chairperson has dismissed leaders and activists without giving them any chance to defend themselves.

Jatiya Party's Chief Patron Raushan Ershad yesterday said she has "suspended" the special power bestowed upon the JP chairperson by the party's charter, citing it contradictory to democracy and the constitution.

In a statement, Raushan, also opposition leader in parliament, announced to reinstate all relieved leaders of the party, including Mashiur Rahman Ranga, who was recently relieved of his presidium membership.

She also mentioned that the suspension will be in effect until the tenth council of the party.

Every party, including Awami League and BNP, has such provisions in their party's charter. This provision has been in our party's charter since its formation and was also approved in the party's ninth council.

According to section 20/1/Ka of the JP charter, the JP chairperson is empowered to make any decision unilaterally.

As per the power bestowed upon the party head, the JP boss can form, reconstitute, and scrap any committee at any level and remove or suspend anyone from the party unilaterally even if the action goes against the other parts of the charter.

Raushan yesterday also send a letter to JP Chairperson GM Quader asking him to comply with the suspension and other decisions, said Rashuan's political secretary Golam Masih.

Raushan said all the grassroots leaders and activists of the party are also against the arbitrary power bestowed upon the JP chair.

"All the provisions of sub-section, approved in the ninth national council of the party, have been misused. By exercising this section, the party chairperson has dismissed leaders and activists -- from the grassroots to the top levels -- without giving them any chance to defend themselves," the statement read.

Contacted, GM Quader told this correspondent that Raushan has no jurisdiction to cancel the special power bestowed upon the party chair and following Raushan's instructions in this regard is not "mandatory".

He also rejected Raushan's claim that section 20/1/Ka of the JP charter is undemocratic and against the country's Constitution.

"Every party, including Awami League and BNP, has such provisions in their party's charter. This provision has been in our party's charter since its formation and was also approved in the party's ninth council," said GM Quader.

The feud between Raushan and Quader started over taking over the party when JP founder HM Ershad fell sick in early 2019. The conflict reached its peak after Ershad's demise in July 2019.

However, a fresh conflict between the two started brewing when she convened the party's 10th council all of a sudden on August 31, which was scheduled for November 26.

JP sources said the pro-Raushan quarter in the party has planned to oust GM Quader from the party helm in the council.

A day after, JP parliamentary body at a meeting decided to remove Raushan from the post of the opposition leader on September 1, urging her to install GM Quader in her place. Ranga was also one of the signatories of the letter.

On September 14, GM Quader removed Ranga, after he irked GM Quader as he spoke in favour of Raushan and the ongoing rift between them during an interview on a private TV channel.

The rift between Raushan, widow of Ershad, and his younger brother GM Quader took a new turn as Opposition Chief Whip Ranga on Tuesday sought to withdraw the letter the JP parliamentary body sent to the Speaker for Raushan's removal as opposition leader.

Raushan, who is currently being treated at a Bangkok hospital, is likely to return home by the end of this month, said her political secretary Golam Moshi.

Aggrieved by GM Quader's recent streak of criticism of the government, the ruling Awami League high-ups are allegedly backing the pro-Raushan group to pressurise GM Quader, said sources.